Coronavirus Guidance

Latest news and advice for musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please monitor the updates issued online by the government and comply with all guidance provided.

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Latest Covid-19 Changes and Restrictions

All about lockdown restrictions and lifting and its impact on musicians' work.

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Follow our regular question and answer sessions over social media, with our senior members of staff.

Help and support

Financial Assistance

Help for musicians in times of hardship and guidance on Government benefits.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Advice and support to help you to look after yourself.

Government Measures

Guidance on measures from the UK governments for the music industry.

Cancelled contracts and income loss

For MU members

Membership Subs Holiday

Struggling to pay your MU membership subscription during the Covid-19 crisis?

Coronavirus Hardship Fund

Our fund for MU members with genuine and pressing hardship

Latest news and features

Closeup photograph of a drumkit, taken from above.

DrumathonLIVE to Raise Money for Mental Health Charities

DrumathonLIVE will involve seven days of non-stop drumming by some of the world’s top drummers, starting from Saturday 15 May and raising money for mental health charities.

A band playing in silhouete outdoors against the sun setting in the background. They appear to be on a roof, there's a guitarist, a singer and a saxophone player.

A Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 and Freelancer Fund Update for Wales

Applications for the Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 close at 5:00 pm on Tuesday 20 April, while the next round of the Freelancer Fund will open for applications soon.

Young child wearing a mask is sat at a piano, turning round to face the camera he raises one thumb in a positive gesture.

We’ve Updated Our Advice for Teaching During Coronavirus

Following updated advice and further clarification from the devolved governments of the UK, we have updated our advice for musicians who teach in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

White painted chairs set out with socially distanced amount of space between them, outdoors.

Government Confirms “Incidental” Live Music Permitted in England from Stage Two

The Government has now confirmed a number of changes and extra details for musicians in its previously published Spring Roadmap for England – and we have updated our guidance accordingly.

Photograph of an orchestra set out in a socially distanced way, we can see all the musicians sat out across the stage in distanced positions, whilst a conductor gestures from the front.

Life in Lockdown for UK Orchestras

In this longer-read feature, find out more about how UK orchestras have been faring through the pandemic – including taking on remote recording projects, working in creative new directions, and putting health and safety first in the move back to work.

Read all Covid-19 news

Workplace advice

Vaccines and Testing

Advice for musicians on your workplace rights related to the Covid-19 vaccine and testing requirements.

Working from Home

What to consider when you are a musician working from home remotely

Music Teaching

Guidance and health and safety advice for musicians who teach during Covid-19.

Live performances

Advice for live musicians and music venues

Recording sessions

Safety advice for session musicians working in recording studios.

Theatre work

How we’re lobbying the Government to better protect theatre musicians

Orchestral work

Advice for orchestral players returning to work safely.

General considerations

Normal hygiene precautions. In order to slow the spread of Covid-19, please observe the advice on the NHS website which has some important guidance on catching and spreading germs.

Self-isolation, testing and tracing. If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, it is important that you self-isolate and follow the NHS advice on testing and tracing.

Observing the lockdown. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are currently in different levels of lockdown and firebreak measures, read our latest advice.

Booking your vaccination appointments. If you have recieved a letter from the NHS inviting you to book your vaccination appointments, you can do so online on the NHS' website.

#InvestInMusicians

Government Must Act to Protect the Future of Music

Call on Government to invest in musicians at the heart of our £5.8bn industry. No-one should be left behind by Government support.

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Government Must Act to Protect the Future of Music

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